Seoul to Toronto (ICN–YYZ) — Airlines, Schedules & Connections

South Korean passport holders need an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) to fly to Canada. Apply at canada.ca/eta for CAD 7 (about $5). Processing is usually within minutes, sometimes up to 72 hours. The eTA is valid for 5 years or until your passport expires, whichever comes first, and allows stays of up to 6 months per entry. If entering Canada by land from the US, no eTA is needed.

Passport must be valid for the duration of your stay (Canada has no strict 6-month validity rule, but matching your intended departure date is the minimum). At the border, a CBSA officer determines your length of stay, up to 6 months. Have your return ticket, accommodation details, and proof of funds ready. For stays beyond 6 months, apply for a visitor record extension at least 30 days before your current status expires, online through IRCC.

Direct flights from Seoul Incheon to Vancouver run about 10 hours on Korean Air, Air Canada, and WestJet. Seoul to Toronto runs about 13 hours on Korean Air and Air Canada. Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD), trading at roughly 1,400 KRW per CAD 1. Contactless payment works everywhere. No mandatory vaccinations. Canada has large Korean communities in Vancouver (especially along North Road in Burnaby) and Toronto (Koreatown on Bloor Street and North York). Transit from Vancouver Airport to downtown takes 26 minutes on the Canada Line SkyTrain for CAD 4.50.

AREX (Airport Railroad Express) runs two services from Seoul Station: the Direct Train (43 min, ₩11,000, reserved seats) and the All-Stop train (66 min, ₩4,550, unreserved). Both trains serve T1 first, then T2; confirm which terminal your airline uses before boarding.Limousine buses depart from major Seoul neighborhoods and hotels (₩16,000–18,000, 60–90 min depending on traffic). KAL and LIMOUSINE services are reliable. Taxis from central Seoul cost ₩65,000–80,000 and take 60–90 minutes. Deluxe (black) taxis are pricier but English-speaking drivers are more common.

UP Express from T1 to Union Station runs every 15 minutes (25 min, CAD $12.35). The station is inside T1; take the LINK train from T3 arrivals first (free, 3 min). Taxis to downtown use a meter; expect CAD $55–75.Ride-hail (Uber, Lyft) picks up at the designated Ground Transportation area; follow signs. TTC buses run to the Kipling and Bloor–Yonge subway stations (CAD $3.30) for a longer but cheaper option. Car rental agencies are at T1 and accessible from T3 via the LINK train.

Humid continental climate. Winters are harsh (−10 to −1°C, December–March) with significant snowfall. Pearson closes runways for plowing and de-icing regularly, causing wave delays. Ice storms (freezing rain) are more disruptive than snowfall and can halt operations for hours. Buffalo-effect lake-effect snow can bring heavy accumulations with little warning.

Summers are warm and humid (22–30°C) with afternoon thunderstorms that delay departures July–August. Spring and fall are pleasant but unpredictable. YYZ connections in winter require significant schedule buffer. It is Canada's most weather-disrupted major hub.